1. First impressions count

It's important to look your best at your interview. Be sure to stick to formal or formal or semi-formal wear with neatly-styled hair.

It's best to arrive at your interview a good 15 minutes in advance giving you ample time to recheck your appearance and to calm those nerves!

Self-confidence is the most important trait you can bring with you to an interview. Since you might get no more than 15 minutes to convince your potential employer that you are the perfect person for the position, displaying a good level of confidence will only increase your chances of bagging the job.

When introducing yourself, step forward and firmly shake hands using your right hand, even if you are left-handed. Looking your interviewer in the eye, introduce yourself with a gentle smile.

From the time you introduce yourself right through the interview, the demonstration of confidence is important.

2. Body language matters

A person's body language can tell the interviewer a lot about that person. In fact, your overall behaviour, posture, facial expressions and tone will give off their own vital signs.

Sit down only after the interviewer has proceeded to do so or asks you to take a seat. It's important to assume a good posture because slouching can make you look like you are completely disinterested in the job.

If you don't know what to do with your hands, keep them folded on your lap, indicating that you know that manners make a person.

Avoid fidgeting with your pen or your fingers, as this is a sign of nervousness and low self-esteem.

During the interview, be sure to maintain eye contact with the interviewer. It's a common notion that failure to maintain a comfortable level of eye contact indicates that a person is lying or lacks a comfortable level of confidence.

3. Corporate Etiquette

Use a polite tone while talking to your interviewer and never interrupt your interviewer. It's important to wait till he or she completes a sentence or question before you begin to respond or ask a question.

When the interviewer poses a question, it's best to refrain from an instant response; you might end up rambling on and going off topic if you don't take a few seconds to compose your response.

If you cannot understand a question, don't hold yourself back from requesting for it to be repeated. Be completely honest during the interview. Even the smallest fib is most likely to be spotted by your interviewer, especially since body language tends to be the main giveaway.

After the interviewer has finished drilling you about your past experience and why you would be perfect for that particular job, you should proceed to ask job-related questions, such as working days and timings. It's best to avoid negotiating the salary during the first round of the interview.

Even if the company is known to conduct single interviews, avoid haggling for a better salary at this stage. After all, you can't be sure whether you secured the job or not!

4. Post-interview

It's important to thank the interviewer once the interview is done. You may want to drop in a statement like, "Look forward to hearing from you," before exiting.

A follow-up call after a week has become common-place in today's fast-paced job scene. Ring the HR department of the company if you wish to know the results of your job interview, but refrain from ringing senior-level employees of the company.

While it is very important that you avoid getting so uptight about body language that you cannot focus on your verbal responses during the interview, try to become more aware of your behaviour. This will help you keep your mannerisms in check to some degree.

Above all, it's important to remember that you will never get a second chance to make a first impression. So give it your best!